Improvement in apparatus for generating gas



l. H. BAWLI N G S & L. IBELAN. Apparatus forY Generating Gas .,llmwlllill -1-....:mik-IWlllIllhlwl-- .l---}.M..k.

.ing abutments placed within the pipe.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

JOHN H. ItAWLINGS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, AND LAMBERT IRELAN, OF WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FCR GENERATING GAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,355, dated February 2, 1875; application tiled February 13, 1874.

reference being had to the annexed drawings and to the letters marked thereon.

Our invention relates to an im proved method and device for superheating and decomposing steam; and it consists of a pipe coiled upon itself and forming an S shape.` Into this pipe ordinary steam is discharged by a nozzle, and is broken up and iinely divided by interpos- The hydrogen gas resulting from the decomposition may be carried off by pipes to the point where it is to be used, or it may be returned to the first part ot' the steampipe by a suitable pipe and pass through it again, assisting in the superheating and separating of new steam.

Referring to the drawings for a more complete explanation of our invention, Figure l is a sectional elevation of our device.

A is the superheater, which is made S- shaped, so that the parallel sides of it are close together, being united by the rounded ends. Strengthening-ribs B serve to hold the whole ot' the machine together. C is a nozzle, Which brings the steam to the superheater, and discharges into it, passing through abushing, I). Within the superheater, and at different points near the induction-point of the steam, we place the abutments E, which are placed alternately uponone side and the other of the passage, and close together, so that the steam, as it enters, will strike the first abutment; then, passing it, will strike the second, and then the third, and so on, as far as may be desired.

In some cases we employ perforated partitions, the perforations in each standing opposite the wall of the next. These abutments receive the steam, which strikes them forcibly, and by this blowr the minute particles of vapor are burst and atomized, so that when they strike against the sides of the heated chamber the vapor will be entirely dried and superheated, and carry no particles of Water along With them. The iron being, heated to redness, will, in that condition, decompose the steam, and the oxygen Will unite with the iron, while the hydrogen escapes in a free state; This hydrogen may be allowed to escape through the open end F of the superheater and decomposer, and be carried by suitable pipes to the point where itis to be used; or a portion of it may be carried over by the arched pipe G, and discharged, as a hot dry gas, into the steamspace at the entrance to the superheater, so as to assist in decomposing the entering steam. A cock at the discharge end serves to regulate the discharge in either direction.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The snperheating vessel or pipe A, provided with the abutments or partitions E, placed alternately at the sides, for the purpose of bursting the watery particles and atomizing the steam previous to decomposition, substantially as herein described.

2. In combination With the superheatin g and decomposing vessel A, provided with the abutmelits E, the pipe G for returning a portion of the hot dry gas, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands and seals.

JOHN H. RAWLINGS. [L s] LAMBERT IRELAN. [L. s l Witnesses to JOHN H. RAWLINGs signature: p

C. W. M. SMITH, PHILIP MAKLER. Witnesses to LAMBERT IRELANS si gnature L. D. HoLBRooK, f S. S. SIMMoNs. 

